The New York Jets began the post-D'Brickashaw Ferguson era by reuniting with his longtime understudy, Ben Ijalana, a free agent who has agreed to a one-year contract, a league source confirmed Saturday.
Ijalana, 26, spent the last three seasons as the Jets' backup left tackle, but he never played the position in a game because Ferguson never missed a snap. In fact, Ijalana appeared in only three games and played just five snaps from 2013 to 2015, filling in at other spots on the offensive line.
The Jets told Ijalana at the start of the offseason they wanted him back, but he shopped the free-agent market, looking for an opportunity to play.